"[5]Taekkyon was documented for the first time in the West as a living martial art by anthropologist Stewart Culin in his book Korean Games, written in 1895.

[6] In the 1921 book Haedong Jukji (East Sea Annals) by Choe Yeong-nyeon, taekkyon is called "flying leg technique".

Two versions existed at the time: one for combat application used by militaries, the other as a game, very popular among lower classes alongside ssireum (Korean wrestling).

The subsequent Japanese occupation prohibited gatherings of people and indigenous fighting techniques, which nearly made the art extinct.

After a martial arts demonstration given for then-president Syngman Rhee's birthday, he was revealed to the public on 26 March 1958 and became known as the "Last Taekkyon Master of the Joseon Dynasty".

On June 1, 1983, owing to the efforts of Song's pupil Shin Han-seung, taekkyon was classified as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset by the Korean government.

Song Deok-gi and Shin Han-seung were subsequently given living national treasure status by the South Korean government.

[11] Since then, taekkyon has enjoyed a renaissance with the establishment of university clubs, the opening of new schools, and active promotional efforts from the government and associations alike.

[13] Taekkyon utilizes a wide variety of techniques including kicks, hands, knee, elbow strikes, pressure point attacks, throws, joint locks, headbutts and grapples.

One of its most striking characteristics is the motion called ogumsil or neung-cheong: It is a constant bending and stretching of the knees, giving taekkyon a dance-like appearance.

The principles and methods used to extend the kick put more emphasis on grace and alignment for whole-body strength, as with the arm motions.

[citation needed] The most unique feature of taekkyon is its triangular footwork called pumbalki or pum balbki (품밟기) which looks like a dance.

[16] Modern taekkyon schools teach a great variety of kicks, low, medium, and high, as well as jumps.

Though hand techniques had been used for self-defense until the Widae style, the three modern schools only teach it at an advanced level as part of yetbeop taekkyon.

The head kicks are often quite sharp, but usually not full force, and fighters may not attempt to wear the opponent down with body blows as in boxing or Muay Thai.

All three representatives of modern taekkyon, Lee Yong-bok, Jung Kyung-hwa and Do Ki-hyun, as well as Song and Shin, attended at this competition.

Originally an 8th Dan in Taekwondo, he taught himself taekkyon with a brief stint studying under Song Deok-gi and Shin Han-seung.

[21] This association was established by Song Deok-gi and Lee Jun-seo in 1983 and does not teach the sport science innovations brought to the art in the mid-1980s.

The KTTA is led by Jeong Kyung-hwa (1954-) who was given the title of "living national treasure of the second generation" by the Korean Government in 1995.

The KTK is led by Do Ki-hyun who mainly learned from Song Deok-gi after starting his training under Shin Han-Seung.

[24] Medieval records mention that several street fighting games and techniques existed in Korea at the time, up until the twentieth century.

Due to the elite's scorn and contempt for martial activities, taekkyon came to be perceived as a fighting method for thugs and sometimes confused with such disciplines:[25] Sibak (시박),[25] Pyeonssaum (편싸움),[26] Nalparam (날파람),[27] Nanjanbaksi (난잔박시),[28] Taegyeok (태격).

[30] There is a common myth about taekkyon being depicted as a kicking game as well as an "ancient version of taekwondo" in the public eye.

Since then, taekkyon has been known to the general public mainly through taekwondo's association and rendition based on incomplete information via bits and pieces of records emphasizing its kicking techniques.

[31] Even though the taekwondo establishment claims an ancient lineage through taekkyon, and even partially modeled its name on it,[32][33][34] the two disciplines don't have much in common.